Digital artists, audiovisual nerds and VJs will gather in London's South Bank this March for the UK's premier visual music festival, Optronica.

Launched by audiovisual masters Addictive TV in 2005, the festival is considered to be the UK's most important celebration of music visual technologies.

The British Film Institute (BFI) is well behind the festival, which will be held at their IMAX cinema and the newly renovated National Film Theatre complex from 14th – 18th March 2007.

"Digital technologies have profoundly altered the way we produce and consume music and moving images," said BFI chairman Anthony Minghella.

"As the equipment becomes increasingly sophisticated and available, we are experiencing an explosion in personal expression."

"As part of the Sony PlayStation Season, Optronica is a colourful and vibrant celebration of this outpouring."

VJs and audiovisual remixes have revolutionised clubland in the last few years, and Optronica explores the fusion of music and visuals, by featuring live performances, screenings, talks and workshops from some of the scene's most important players.

"Over the years we've witnessed the scene developing rapidly, right across the world, with lots of artists from very different backgrounds all exploring the visual music genre," said Graham Daniels of Addictive TV, who have been at the forefront of visual-music and VJing for almost a decade.

"The global explosion of new visuals-oriented festivals also shows that there's a real appetite for this new art form.

"Optronica is the perfect and much needed platform in the UK."

Confirmed performances for this year's Optronica include the world premières of new shows from ground-breaking artists like Trevor Jackson, Fred Deakin of Lemon Jelly and design group Airside.

They'll also be a special collaboration between Austrian electronic music pioneer Christian Fennesz and renowned New York video artist Charles Atlas.

Japanese artist Ryoichi Kurokawa will also appear, as will Reactable who recently stunned crowds at Barcelona's Sonar festival in 2006.

OPTRONICA

Part of the PlayStation Season @ the BFI Southbank

Wednesday 14th – Sunday 18th March 2007